Stretching and drying apparatus



Nov. 16, 1937. E. H. Russ, JR

STRETCHING AND DRYING APPARATUS Filed April 20, 1 956 Z W 6 W 4 JNM /K ll// m n M s m M /M H n 5 m 0 fa/w l n f m l l l l l l l @LWN i I- 2\M H2 Y a 5 I l 5 F5 6 Z Z .\\4 f 7 0 J e@ a glu/vento@ Edward f7( Pass, Jr:

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Patented Nov. 16, 1937 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE 6 Claims.

'Ihis invention relates to the art of laundering various materials andmore particularly pertains to an improved apparatus for handling suchmaterials during the drying process. Although the improved apparatusherein disclosed is designed primarily for use in laundering sucharticles as curtains, blankets, rugs and the like, it will be apparentthat its use may be extended to include any of the various articlessubject to laundering or dry cleaning processes. K

In the laundering of many types of articles it is imperative that therebe no shrinkage of the material and in order to assure this result thearticle is customarily measured before being l washed and is thenstretched to the same dimensions and dried upon a stretcher after beingwashed. 'Ihese operations are often laborious, ineiiicient and timeconsuming due to the dimculty experienced by a single operator inattempt- 20 ing to secure a large article on a stretcher, ad-

just it to a proper shape and then dry the same uniformly in thatdesired shape.

The present invention is directed toward the elimination of thosedifficulties and provides a drying apparatus having a stretchingapparatus incorporated therein whereby a single operatory may ecientlyhandle the article to be dried;

Another object is the provision of an apparatus by means of which anarticle may be readily .stretched into a desired shape and held in thatshape during a drying process;

' Anotherobject is the provision of apparatus which is compact and maybe utilized with a minimum of eiiort on the part of the user;

A further object is the provision of an eiicient drying apparatus whichwill assure a uniform and closely regulated drying eiect and will occupya minimum of space;

Another object is the provision of a rotatable 40. apparatus which maybe used to impose a centrifugal effect on the article being dried;

A further object is the provision of a relatively inexpensive stretchingand drying Vapparatus requiring a minimum of manual attention;

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent whenconsidered in connection with the accompanying drawing in which,

Figure l is an elevation view partly in section showing the generalassembly of the apparatus;

Figure 2 is an end view of Figure 1 showing the clamping means in adifferent position;

Figure 3 is a detail View showing one means of adjusting the clampingmeans;

Figure 4 is a detail view showing one means of 55, actuating the ringmember; and y Figure 5 is a detail View showing a means for holding theadjustable clamping means in position.

As shown in the drawing, a rotatable cylindrical drier l is constructedwith hollow axle portions 2 and 3 which are journalled in bearings 4 and5 supported upon pedestals 6 and 1. The drier is formed with end members8 and 9 secured to the cylindrical portion l and carrying the axleportions of the drier. Extending longitudinally of the drier is aheating source such as a stationary steam pipe l0 which may convenientlybe enlarged inside the drier to provide an increased radiating surface.Pipe l0 extends through the rotatable axle portions 2 and 3 with a closet and may be supported in any suitable manner exteriorly of the drier,as for example by brackets (not shown) attached to pedestals 6 or l. Byvirtue of this construction, the heat from pipe l is radiated to thesurface of drier l and provides a uniform drying effect at any portionon the circumference of the drier.

Since widely varying types of articles may be dried upon the apparatus,the degree of heat required will necessarily be subject to variations.For this reason, it is proposed to use a conventional thermostaticcontrol means (not shown) in steam line Hl when such use is warranted.Other conventional means such as thermometers, pressure control valves,humidistats and the like could be used in connection with the apparatuswhen occasion requires without departing from the scope of theinvention.

Due to the construction employed, the drier has no openings from whichheat can escape and an ecient use of the heat supplied by pipe I0 isthus obtained. Although the structure thus described comprises ane'cient drying means, it is necessary to provide cooperating means tohold the article to be dried in place on such a drier during the dryingoperation. As an essential and integral part of the invention a means isprovided for holding. an article in place either in a stretchedcondition or in an unstretched condition. The invention, therefore,includes in combination with the above drier a means which may`functionto hold the article longitudinally or circumferentially of the drier orto hold it in both of these directions.

As shown on Figure l, a ring member I5 is securely fixed to drier ladjacent end member 8 and is provided with a roughened outer surface I6which may consist of corded wire or the like. SurfaceV I6 is adapted toprovide a frictional engagement with one edge of any material placed incontact therewith and will hold such material against movement withouttending to tear the same. Cooperating with ring I5 is a second ringmember 20 adjustable longitudinally of the drier and having a roughenedouter surface 2| functioning to hold another edge of material placed incontact therewith.

Movable ring 2|] is provided with two interiorly disposed boss members22 preferably located on diametrieally opposite sides of the ring andthreaded for engagement with two longitudinally disposed threaded rods23. As a supporting means for relieving any binding of the ring on thesethreaded rods additional rods 24 are tted into the outer surface of thedrier and support the weight of the ring 20 through additional bosses(not shown) on the interior of such ring. Ring 20 is thus supportedbyfrods 24 at all times regardless of its position alo-ng the drier andat the same time may be moved freely along rods 24 due to the engagementof its threaded bosses 22 with threaded rods 23.

Rods 23 and 24 are positioned in recesses 25 and 26 on the exteriorsurface of drier I and are secured into end members 8 and 9 by anysuitable bracketY means such as indicated at 21 and28. Since therecesses are of appreciable depth, the material'resting upon driersurface I will lie over the rods 23 and 24 without contacting the same.In order to move ring 2D it is necessary to rotate threaded rods 23 andsince such rods must turnv in their mountings in the end members, acollar member 29, shown in Figure 4, is provided. The bracket 21 isadapted to hold the rod in assembled position. One convenient means forturning rods 23 in order to move ring 20 may comprise a removable crank30 adapted tobe operated manually. It will be apparent, however, Vthatany other means for turning rods A23, such as a motor driven mechanism,may be employed without departing from the scope of the invention. Inemploying a crank such as shown, the ends of rods 23 may be formed witha square recess 3| into which a square end 32 of crank 30 may beinserted and turned.

Movable ring 20 in cooperation with ring I5 and the drier surface Iprovides a construction for drying a material and stretching it in onedirection. Since articles such as blankets, curtains and the like mayshrink in drying, it is customary to measure the same prior tolaundering and then todry them to the same dimensions. In order,therefore, to assure the drying of a material held by rings I5 and 20 inits desired shape a scale 33 is'incorporated into the surface of drierand provides a ready means for. the proper positioning of movable ring20. Such scale preferably comprises a flat brass strip graduated ininches and welded tothe drier ush with its surface.V -Since the drier isrotatable and ring 20 may be adjusted from either or both of rods 23, itis intended to provide a plurality of such scales at convenient placeson the surface of the drier cylinder.

In order to hold an article having appreciable l dimensions in twodirections means is provided for securing such article circumferentiallyas well as longitudinally of the drier. Incorporated into the driersurface I is a roughened surface 35 extendingzsubstantially the entirelength of the drier.V As explained hereinafter, one edge of the Aarticleto-be dried may be laid along surface 35 andheld in frictional contact.vtherewith. Any suitable type of surface may be used Vsuch as a corded,`wire, aiknurling of the drier surfaceor similar frictional means. Tohold the fourth edge of the article the adjustable clamping means 4i! isprovided. This clamping means comprises an elongated member held by arms4| and 42 and pivoted about axle members 2 and 3. For securing theclamping means in proper position radially of the drier a retaining pin43, such as shown in Figure 5, may be used. Pin 43 has attached theretoa spring 44 under tension and bearing against a back plate 45 secured ina recess 46 in arm 4|. A head 41 on pin 43 may be used for moving thepin outwardly against pressure of the spring. If desired, means forlocking pin 43 in its withdrawn position may be used'. Y

In the end member 8 is a series of holes 50 forming a scale formeasuring circumferential distances from surface 35 as a base. The pin43 is adapted .to fit into any selected hole 50 and to holdV clampingmeans 40 securely in place. The row of holes50 will preferably begraduated in inches to provide a convenient measuring means. Y

Clamping means 40 is pivoted on a radius larger than the radius of theexternal surface of drier in order to retain articles of varyingthickness. For securing the article in place on the drier an adjustablestrip 5I is positioned in a slot 52 extending along the clamping means.Strip 5| has incorporated into its upperrsurface a rough surface 53adaptedto press against one edge of the article and to hold the samesecurely. Any suitable means for adjusting strip 5| may be provided, butfor convenience a simple manually operable screw 54 having a head 55 andscrewing into clamping means 40 is shown herewith. It is obvious thatany number of these means for adjusting strip 5| may be used and thatother equivalent means for serving the same purpose maywell be usedwithout departing from the invention.

As will be apparent, the drier I is freely rotatable and may be turnedmanually or by means of a prime mover should occasion require. In theevent that the drier is used Yfor drying an article such as a heavy rugwhere increased evaperation from the nap of the same is desirable `andwhere they effect of centrifugal force is needed for throwing out thenap of the rug, a means such as shown in Figure 1 may be used. In thisconstruction a pulley member 60 forms an extensionV of hollow axleportionV 3 of the drier and has attached thereto a belt 6| driven by anyprime mover (not shown). It is obvious, therefore, that the drier andits integral cooperating stretching mechanism may be rotated atY anydesired rate of speed to carry out the drying operation.

In using the above disclosed apparatus an operator may follow thisprocedure. After adjusting ring 20 to the desired width of the articleto be dried, he would. then place oneof the lengthwise edges of thearticle along surface 35 of the drier and the two side `edges of thekarticle along sur--V faces |B and 2| of rings I5 and 20. 'Iihen byslowly rotating the drier the material will be laid along the driersurface. Clamping means 40 will be adjusted for the proper length of thearticle by placing pin 43 in the proper hole along scale Sli. Ifnecessary, the strip 5| will be ad,- justed'to accommodate the thicknessof the article being dried since the same apparatus may be usedsuccessively for drying a thin curtain and a thick rug or blanket. i.

After the article has; dried Vit is easily removed from theapparatusmerely by loosening clamping means and lifting the article from thesurface of the drier. Due to the fact that the drier is rotatable oneoperator may handle large articles which formerly required the servicesof two or more attendants. Merely by folding the article prior toplacing it on the apparatus and slowly unfolding it as the drier isrotated one person is thus enabled to handle large articles Withoutdificulty.

Having thus described the invention, it Will be obvious that manyvariations in size, structure and materials may be devised to serve thesame function Without departing from the teaching thereof.

I claim:

l. Apparatus for drying a fabric article cornprising in combination, aclosed arcuate drying surface, a roughened surface incorporated into thedrying surface and adapted to provide a frictional contact with thearticle, a centrally disposed heating source Within the closed dryingsurface and adjustable frictional contact means cooperating With theroughened surface for holding the edges of the article to be driedsubstantially flush against said drying surface.

2. Apparatus for ldrying a fabric article comprising in combination, aclosed cylindrical drier, a source of heat Within the drier, a roughenedsurface extending longitudinally of the external surface of the drierand adapted to provide a frictional contact with one edge of the articleand a longitudinally disposed, adjustable frictional contact clampingmeans adapted to hold another edge of the article against the surface ofthe drier whereby the edges of the article are held substantially flushagainst the drier surface at all points.

3. Apparatus for stretching and drying a fabric article comprising incombination, an arcuate drying surface having means providing africtional engagement with the article, an arcuate member longitudinallyadjustable of the drying surface and having means providing a frictionalengagement with the article, clamping means for the article adjustableradially of the drying surface whereby the article may be stretchedlongitudinally and circumferentially by the adjustable arcuate memberand clamping means in order to hold the same in a desired shape.

4. In a structure of the character described, a

closed cylindrical drier adapted to exert a substantially uniform dryingeffect at all points on its exposed surface, frictional contact meansvincorporated into the drier surface for holding an article substantiallyush against the drier surface along one edge and radially adjustablefrictional contact means adapted to hold a parallel edge of the articlesubstantially flush against the drier surface.

5. In a structure of the character described, a closed cylindrical drieradapted to exert a substantially uniform drying eiect at all points onits exposed surface, frictional contact means incorporated into thedrier surface for holding an article substantially flush against thedrier surface along one edge and longitudinally adjustable frictionalcontact means adapted to hold a parallel edge of the articlesubstantially flush against the drier surface.

6. In a structure of the character described, a closed cylindrical drieradapted to exert a substantially uniform drying effect at all points onits exposed.A surface, frictional contact means incorporated into thedrier surface for holding an article substantially flush against thedrier surface along a longitudinal edge, frictional contact meansincorporated into the drier surface for holding an article substantiallyflush against the drier surface along a transverse edge, radiallyadjustable frictional contact means adapted, to hold a secondlongitudinal edge of the article substantially flush against the driersurface and longitudinally adjustable frictional contact means adaptedto hold a second transverse edge of the article substantially ushagainst the drier surface.

EDWARD H. RUSS, JR.

